My Bossy Assistant - COMPLETED (Published under PHR)

Part 19: Personally or Professionally?

PAGPASOK ni Hunter nang umagang iyon ay hindi niya nakita si Dan sa desk nito. For a moment he felt himself stop short. Napalingon siya sa paligid upang hanapin ito ngunit sinalubong lamang siya ng mga curious na tingin ng iba pang mga empleyado. Napilitan tuloy siyang dumiretso na lamang sa kanyang opisina.

Hindi pa man siya tuluyang nakakalapit sa mesa niya ay nakita na agad niya ang maayos na hilera ng mga folders sa gitna niyon. Sa tabi ng mga folders ay ilang mga notes na alam niyang naglalaman ng mga mensahe para sa kanya at sa kabilang gilid naman niyon ay ang nakabukas na planner niya. For the first time that day, he felt himself smile. At least now he knew that Dan was already at the office. Pero nasaan kaya ito? Bakit wala ito sa desk nito? Imposible namang nagbreak na agad ito dahil napakaaga pa.

Nasagot ang mga tanong na iyon ni Hunter nang buksan niya ang folder na nasa pinaka-ibabaw. There was a note there from Dan. Ayon sa note ay naroon ito sa meeting ng committee na siyang mangangasiwa sa pagpapatupad ng mga pagbabagong nais niyang gawin sa mga susunod na buwan.

"What?" Hunter found himself asking. "I only get a note now?"

Inis na inilabas ni Hunter ang sariling cell phone. He was infuriated by the fact that his assistant didn't even bother to call him or personally inform him of her whereabouts.

Dan, you better pick up or—

"I'm in the middle of a meeting, Sir." Dan's sweet yet sharp tone cut into the line.

Napatikhim si Hunter sa pagkakarinig ng boses nito. Para bang na-miss niya iyon. "I want to see you in my office now."

"Magpupunta agad ako diyan pagkatapos ng meeting na ito," pabulong na sagot nito.

Hindi niya pinansin ang sinabi ng dalaga. "Dan, I will expect you in my office within ten minutes. Mag-excuse ka muna sa mga ka-meeting mo diyan." Iyon lang at pinutol na niya ang tawag. Damn! Kailan pa siya natutong umakto na parang teenager na papunta sa kanyang first date? He never acted that way before, not when he was a teenager and definitely not now! Wala sa sariling napabaling siya sa glass cover ng bookshelf at nakita ang sariling repleksiyon doon. Noon niya napansin ang mariing pagkakakunot ng kanyang noo. And then his reflection started to change. It suddenly looked back at him with a mocking glint.

You're losing your head, man, then his reflection faded as the door to his office opened.

Walang sere-seremonyang nagmartsa papasok doon si Dan. She looked as immaculate as she always did. Pero parang mas maganda itong tingnan ngayon. Especially with the way her brows furrowed and her lips twitched as she stopped right in front of his desk. Napansin pa nga niya ang tila napakalambot nitong kamay habang itinuturo ang mga bagay na nakapatong sa kanyang desk.

"Ito ang mga dokumentong kailangan mong basahin. I've already arranged it according to urgency. Ang mga nasa pinakataas ang mga nangangailangan ng agaran mong atensiyon. I've already read through the urgent documents and highlighted the important parts." Itinuro naman ni Dan ang mga notes na nasa tabi niyon. "Iyan ang mga taong tumawag sa'yo habang wala ka pa. I've also arranged it according to importance. Iyong nasa ibabaw ang mga taong tumawag tungkol sa negosyo. You'll have to call them back. Nasa ilalim naman ang mga personal na tawag." Then she pointed at the planner. "And that's your schedule for the day, Sir. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to get back to the meeting that I organized for your project." Idiniin pa nito ang pagkakasabi sa salitang 'your' kaya medyo nakonsiyensiya naman si Hunter. Pero sandali lang iyon.

"Teka lang, Dan," tawag niya dito bago ito tumalikod. He knew that he sounded like a brat acting with tantrums but he couldn't help it. "Itong mga 'to," itinuro ni Hunter ang mga bagay na nasa ibabaw ng kanyang desk. "Hindi ito ang dahilan kung bakit hiniling kong magpunta ka dito."

Sa pagkagulat niya ay ngumiti ng matamis si Dan. Parang bigla tuloy siyang kinabahan at hindi niya maipaliwanag kung bakit. No woman had ever made him feel nervous before.

"Pardon me for saying this, Sir, pero sa tingin ko ay hindi mo naman hiniling na magpunta ako dito. I believe you ordered me to. Kaya kahit pa nasa kalagitnaan ako ng meeting na matagal ko nang nai-clear sa iyo at matagal mo na ding naaprubahan ay iniwan ko iyon para pumunta dito."

Damn! Why did this woman always know the right buttons to push? She was undoubtedly too smart and bossy for her own good. And also too damn gorgeous for his own good. Kung hindi lang dahil sa advantage ni Hunter ng pagkakaroon ng mas malawak at matagal na experience sa pakikipagdeal sa babaeng masyadong bossy ay malamang na tumiklop na siya. But he had years of experience with his mother so he won't allow himself to be bossed around. Sino ba ang boss sa kanilang dalawa? Hindi ba siya? "Well, I wouldn't have ordered you to do that if you just cared enough to tell me about it."

"I did tell you about it."

"Ah," inilabas ni Hunter ang note na inipit ni Dan sa folder na nasa ibabaw. "Ito ba ang tinutukoy mo? This is a freaking note, woman!"

"I have a name, Sir. I would appreciate it if you won't call me woman. And what's wrong with the note?"

Hindi makapaniwalang pinakatitigan ito ni Hunter. Was she seriously asking him that question? "Are you freaking kidding me?"

"No, Sir. I'm merely asking you what is your problem with the note? Malinaw naman na nakalagay diyan kung nasaan ako at kung ano ang ginagawa ko."

"You're my assistant and I don't want to communicate with my assistant through a note."

"Okay, I can understand that, Sir. Pero wala ka pa naman dito kanina nang magsimula kami. How do you expect me to let you know about my whereabouts?"

"You could have just called me." The moment that those words escaped from his lips, he immediately knew that it wasn't the right thing to say.

"Called you? Gusto mong tawagan kita para ipaalam ang mga ginagawa ko? Pero ikaw, simula nung isang linggo ay palagi na lang na sa e-mail mo lang ako kinakausap. Hindi ba parang mali naman yata iyon?"

Hunter may have to concede this point. Dan was really too smart.

"And honestly, Sir, I was just taking the cue from you," pagpapatuloy nito. "Sinusunod ko lang ang nais mong mangyari. Hindi ba ikaw ang naunang makipagcommunicate sa impersonal na paraan? So I assumed that's how you want to conduct our business here."

"Dan..."

"What?"

"Alright, I apologize," Hunter said with a sigh. He definitely deserved that sermon.

"Personally or professionally?"

"Is there a difference?"

"To me, there is. And since you're not answering, I am just going to say apology accepted." And just when Hunter was about to breathe a sigh of relief, Dan added, "Professionally speaking."